It appears creating a file with filename like: C:\Test\This is a testfile:Foo.bar using CreateFileW is permitted (shown as "C:\Test\This is a testfile" only), but causes several problems when accessing or deleting. The problems vary a bit, but the following issues seem to be 'constant': - First attemt to delete using DeleteFileW with the original full filename reports success, subsequent calls report failure. The file still exists. - It appears the file can only be deleted using the trunctated filename when using DeleteFileW API. Tested with Windows 7 home premium 64bit us and Windows XP professional 32bit german

File names containing a colon outside the drive designation are illegal under Windows. While it might be possible to create them, why would you do want to do this: What actually is your question?

On Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:05:58 +0000, RetiCenceLA wrote: In Windows, a file name cannot contain \ / : * ? " < > | Note that includes the colon. In the example you give: C:\Test\This is a testfile the ":" is not part of the file name. Rather it demarcates the drive designation in the path name. The file name is "This is a testfile". See: Naming Files, Paths, and Namespaces for more information on naming files in Windows Ron